Fighting Bias in California Courts: What You Should Know

The California Racial Justice Act aims to eliminate racial bias in criminal cases. Learn how it could apply to your situation.

The California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) of 2020 prohibits the state from seeking or securing a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law empowers defendants to challenge their case at any stage—including pretrial, sentencing, or post-conviction—if they can demonstrate discriminatory intent or significant statistical disparities in treatment compared to other racial or ethnic groups.

A key provision of the CRJA allows for the use of statewide or local statistical data to show systemic bias. For example, a defendant could argue that people of a certain race are disproportionately sentenced to prison for the same offense compared to other groups. The law also considers biased language by attorneys, judges, or expert witnesses as potential evidence.

Recent applications of the law have resulted in overturned convictions and reduced sentences, particularly in cases where historical patterns of discrimination were identified. The CRJA has also influenced prosecutorial decisions, with some district attorneys revisiting prior convictions under this lens.

If you believe your case was influenced by racial bias, legal help is available. An attorney familiar with the CRJA can help gather evidence, present a motion, and potentially secure a more equitable outcome.